7 Reasons to Teach at a Writers Conference

Workshop proposal submissions for the Colorado Gold Conference opened January 1st and we’ve already received quite a few excellent proposals.

You may be asking yourself if you're qualified to teach at a writers conference or if it’s worth your time and effort to develop a course. We’re here to tell you that everyone has something to offer. Below are just a few of the reasons why you should submit a proposal for this year’s conference.

It Inspires Others
Writers need endless inspiration. We probably want to quit more often than people in any other career including those who clean port-a-potties for a living. Experienced writers who publicly share their failures and successes captivate and inspire conference attendees. Be a part of an event that sends writers home with a renewed sense of creativity and drive to complete their works in progress.

It’s Challenging
Taking time to develop a workshop is challenging and well worth the effort. Many of us writers are introverts and teaching is an opportunity to interact in a public setting. Students will test your knowledge, and you may even learn something from them. In the end, you’ll leave the conference closer to perfecting your own skills.

It Renews Your Ingenuity
Taking time away from fiction writing to develop a course for writers redirects your creativity. Your efforts will leave a lasting impression on students, and you’ll return to your own work with a refreshed frame of mind.

It Shares Your Knowledge
Think about how much you’ve learned at the writers conferences you’ve attended. It’s time to give back and share your knowledge with fellow writers. Mold the minds of future fiction authors and set them on the right path. Help fellow writers perfect their skills and bring their stories closer to publication.

It’s Self-Rewarding
With all the rejection writers face on a regular basis, we need to frequently rejuvenate our spirits. One way to do this is through the rewards that come along with teaching and inspiring others. You will gain a sense of accomplishment by coaching fellow writers on their journey to publication. Students will inspire you, and you’ll leave the conference with a positive outlook about your own work as well.

It’s a Responsibility
If you’ve been writing for years, whether you are published or not, you are a leader and shouldn’t be afraid to see yourself as such. New writers look up to your knowledge and experience. They want to know how you succeeded. Share your skills and wisdom with confidence.

It Earns Compensation
One of the best reasons to teach at the Colorado Gold Conference is to save a little cash. Presenters receive compensation that’s good toward discounts off the base conference registration fee. Panelists receive a $50 discount on the conference registration fee per discussion panel they sit on. Co-presenters of workshops receive half off the normal registration fee per workshop. Solo workshop presenters may attend the conference at no base charge.

Note that the maximum compensation for any presenter is one base conference registration fee. Paid add ons are not included in the base conference registration fee and are not part of the compensation. RMFW does not provide travel or other expenses. More information about compensation is found in the conference proposal form and Conference Proposal Worksheet.

Teaching or speaking at a conference can benefit you as well as the writing community. One of the best things about attending a writers conference is the opportunity to gather and grow with your tribe. Being able to share your knowledge and guide others down a path that’s familiar to you is a great way to be a part of that. You get to connect with other writers, give back, and get your name out there as an expert. If you have knowledge to share, consider teaching a workshop at RMFW’s Colorado Gold. We look forward to seeing your proposals!

Susan Brooks holds a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and is editor-in-chief at Literary Wanderlust, a small traditional press located in Denver. She is the co-chairperson for RMFW’s annual Colorado Gold conference, which is three days in September of intensive fiction workshops for writers of all levels, and she has been an RMFW board member since 2009. Her paranormal romance, A Trick of the Light, is scheduled for publication on July 1, 2018.
Pamela Nowak is passionate about the American West, those who lived there, relationships, and the interweaving of fact and fiction. She's a former RMFW Writer of the Year, and her western romance novels have won the WILLA Finalist Award, the Colorado Book Award, the HOLT Medallion, and HOLT Awards of Merit. She is currently working on a historical women’s fiction project. Pam has served on the RMFW board in several capacities and chaired the Colorado Gold conference three times prior to her 2018 conference co-chair role. In addition, she works with two publishing houses providing manuscript reviews and editorial services.

5 thoughts on “7 Reasons to Teach at a Writers Conference”

Love this…so true on every count. It’s also, gulp, gasp, er, uh….fun. Yes, gotta get over the wobbles but it can be fun. And if you’re going to do any public speaking down the road, a conference of like-minded souls (writers) is a great place to start.

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